got milk? Rookie Power Rankings: Jan. 22, 2003

[大rodman91™]

By Randy Kim

The big men are still on top, but a baller from Beantown who has been instrumental in helping get the Celtics back on track made the biggest jump.

Please note that due to the MLK holiday, there is an extra day tacked on to this week's stats, meaning games from Monday, Jan. 21 are included.

Here are this week's rankings:

got milk? Rookie Power Rankings

NO. 1 :: AMARE STOUDEMIRE, PF, PHOENIX SUNS

Stats: 42 GP, 13.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.02 bpg, .469 FG%, 31.3 mpg Last Week: 4 GP, 19.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 35.0 mpg Notes: How good is Amare? The Arizona Central Web site has started its own "That's Amare" section ... Ranks third in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game (3.5), and ninth in double-doubles (18) ... He'll be coached by former Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons in the got milk? Rookie Challenge during All-Star Weekend.

NO. 2 :: YAO MING, C, HOUSTON ROCKETS

Stats: 40 GP, 12.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .518 FG%, 2.03 bpg, .769 FT%, 26.8 mpg Last Week: 4 GP, 9.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.75 bpg, 29.3 mpg Notes: Numbers were down this week, but he responded when it mattered ... While he only managed 10 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in his showdown with Shaq in Houston, he proved himself to be a worthy foe to the Lakers' great. Most importantly, the Rockets won the game.

NO. 3 :: J.R. BREMER, G, BOSTON CELTICS

Stats: 23 GP, 3.7 ppg, .286 3P%, 13.2 mpg Last Week: 4 GP, 10.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.75 spg, 35.5 mpg Notes: Celts have won last four, and are now 4-2 when Bremer plays 30-plus minutes ... Has gone from afterthought to starting point guard, and is holding spot even though Delk is back ... Jim O'Brien to the Boston Globe: "Since we're happy with J.R.'s play both offensively and defensively and we're succeeding with it, I'm not going to change it.''

NO. 4 :: NENE HILARIO, F, DENVER NUGGETS

Stats: 39 GP, 9.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, .491 FG%, 1.64 spg, 27.2 mpg Last Week: 3 GP, 13.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.33 spg, 34.7 mpg Notes: Had a monster outing in Jan. 15 loss to Jazz, with 24 points, nine rebounds and three steals ... Knicks coach Don Chaney on Hilario, to the Denver Post: "(Hilario has) improved, and he'll continue to improve because of his desire for the game. He wants to work and do better, and he enjoys the game. Guys with that kind of attitude always improve."

NO. 5 :: CARLOS BOOZER, F-C, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
	Stats: 42 GP, 8.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .550 FG%, .726 FT%, 23.0 mpg Last Week: 4 GP, 12.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg, .588 FG%, 31.0 mpg Notes: With Tyrone Hill injured again, Boozer has stepped up ... Currently No. 2 in the NBA in field-goal percentage ... Recently had string of three-straight double-doubles ... Will play in 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge with fellow Cavs rookie, Dajuan Wagner.

NO. 6 :: GORDAN GIRICEK, F, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Stats: 40 GP, 11.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .353 3P%, .840 FT%, 23.7 mpg Last Week: 3 GP, 13.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .531 FG%, 28.0 mpg Notes: Stepping up as a consistent contributor ... Despite going just 2-for-7 from three-point range last week, Giricek shot over 50 percent (.531) for the week overall ... Splitting time with recently-returned Wesley Person ... Will represent Grizzlies in 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge, with fellow rookie Drew Gooden and second-year player Pau Gasol.

NO. 7 :: CARON BUTLER, F, MIAMI HEAT

Stats: 41 GP, 13.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.63 spg, .826 FT%, .353 3P%, 36.4 mpg Last Week: 4 GP, 12.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 40.3 mpg Notes: Numbers dipped with return of Eddie Jones, but Butler was named to rookie squad in 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge ... "This is a dream come true," Butler said to the Miami Sun-Sentinel. "Growing up, I never thought I would be playing in a game like this with my peers. It's a beautiful thing."

NO. 8 :: JUNIOR HARRINGTON, G, DENVER NUGGETS

Stats: 40 GP, 4.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 23.4 mpg Last Week: 3 GP, 8.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.3 apg, 3.67 spg, 32.3 mpg Notes: If last five games are any indication, then Junior's roughly a 10-4-5 guy ... Had excellent game in Jan. 17 win over Cavs, with 11 points, eight assists and six steals ... Denver's starting point guard Chris Whitney hopes to be back by the end of January, according to the Denver Post, meaning Harrington's minutes could go down.

NO. 9 :: DREW GOODEN, F, MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
	Stats: 39 GP, 12.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .456 FG%, .323 3P%, 26.3 mpg Last Week: 3 GP, 9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 22.7 mpg Notes: Has returned to his old form ... Will play in the 'got milk?' Rookie Challenge ... According to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, Gooden has two tattoos: "Bay Area's Finest," and "From Nothing." The second one explains his uniform number (zero).

NO. 10 :: MEHMET OKUR, C-F, DETROIT PISTONS

Stats: 31 GP, 4.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, .344 3P%, .800 FT%, 13.7 mpg Last Week: 3 GP, 5.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 17.0 mpg Notes: With Pistons big man Zeljko Rebraca sidelined with an irregular heartbeat, Okur has stepped up ... 23-year-old Turk has soft touch from outside and is a solid rebounder ... Carlisle told the Detroit Free-Press that he wasn't sure what will happen when Rebraca returns. "I'm not saying Mehmet's minutes will be taken away. It's going to depend on Z's condition and how Mehmet is playing."

Honorable Mention (Stats over last week): Rasual Butler, G-F, Miami Heat; Juan Dixon, G, Washington Wizards; Kareem Rush, G, Los Angeles Lakers; Dajuan Wagner, G, Cleveland Cavaliers

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